10 best pop-punk songs that mention dogs

Everybody loves dogs, and our favorite pop-punk bands are no exception. Whether they pay tribute to man’s best friend overtly or slip in a few subtle references, pop-punk artists are notorious for loving on pups more than everyone else. Here are 10 tracks that mention our furry counterparts. Can’t get enough? We have you covered. Check out our online store for pup punk merch!

To this day, blink-182 will never be dubbed as a band who exactly “love dogs.” With a track such as “Fuck A Dog,” it is easy to disregard the band’s love for our best friends. We don’t know who decided to go out on a limb and reach out to Mark Hoppus to be a part of the compilation album Dog Songs, but we give them major props because this song is brilliant. Created to help dogs affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hoppus wrote and released this solo song about Dinky, the world’s nastiest pooch in National Lampoon’s Vacation. Released in 2017, the money raised by the compilation album went toward the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Sure, Hoppus’ track is still a little brutal, but at least it’s going to a good cause.

“I’ve Given Up On You” – Real Friends

We have all been down in the dumps, but in the end, you only need one friend to get you through it. For the Tinley Park pop-punk band Real Friends, that friend is their dog. The line, “Lately, my dog’s the only one around that listens to my problems” is a true testament of a dog’s loyalty. While your pup may not understand a word you’re saying, you know he will always lend you a furry shoulder to cry on.

“Constant Headache” – Joyce Manor

A popular conspiracy theory has arisen from these Californian pop punkers. Many fans believe that “Constant Headache” was written from the perspective of a dog, and we can totally see it. Of course, Joyce Manor neither confirmed or refuted the claims, but we like the song a million times more if this is the case—not that we didn’t love it before. Give it a listen and decide for yourself.

“Wondering” – Good Charlotte

﻿﻿Written about the band’s dog, Cash, “Wondering” is another ode to man’s best friend. Obedient, kind and always willing to please, it is no question that Good Charlotte’s pup has helped them through some tough times. While the song is commonly mistaken to be about a girl, Good Charlotte promise that it was Cash who was their rock. We aren’t crying, you’re crying. Fun fact: “The Day That I Die” also mentions the dog.

“Brass Ring” – Tigers Jaw

From their latest album spin, Tigers Jaw use vibrant lyricism to portray the image of a “dog chasing its tail.” Associating the image with anxiety and sleepless nights, dog imagery is a common ploy in many pop-punk lyrics; however, the Scranton band does it so well. While this song may not be about any specific pup, the image itself is enough to make us receive the message loud and clear.

“Vacation Bible School” – Tiny Moving Parts

A pet wolf and a dog are basically the same thing, right? This one isn’t so kind to our furry friends, either, but with its beautiful guitar work and vibing bass lines, it was impossible not to include.

“My Wena” – Bowling For Soup

For this interesting, dual-meaning track, Bowling For Soup draw parallels between an innocent dog and well, you know…

“All That I’ve Got” – The Used

During the week of recording their second album In Love And Death, the Used’s Bert McCracken’s dog passed away. McCracken was booked on a flight that didn’t allow passengers to take their dogs, and one of his friends was supposed to bring the small dog to him a few days later. Unfortunately, the dog was hit by a car the very next day. To help cope, McCracken wrote the track about his beloved David Bowie. McCracken himself has confirmed the rumors saying, “It was one of the most hardcore things that had happened to me up to that point in my life.”

“Willie (For Howard)” – The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die

It’s hard to overlook the dog symbolism in this track. Tying concepts of age and death to the experiences of an old dog, “Willie (For Howard)” is a slow, dying ode that is enough to send a few tears down your cheek.

“Housebroken” – The Hotelier

“Housebroken” is far deeper than what its title suggests. Equating an abusive household to animal neglect, the Hotelier exemplify the ugly truth that many children face every day. The track has also been thought to be synonymous with anarchy and rebellion; however, we think the tune has a much darker connotation.

BUY THE LATEST ISSUE:

ALTERNATIVE PRESS is dedicating its November 2018 issue (AP 364) to chronicling the brief life and times of Gustav Elijah Ahr, commonly known as LIL PEEP, the artist whose ability to intersect the worlds of hip-hop, emo and DIY production ignited a new consciousness in both music and culture.